Ocala Part 4- Cletus strikes back!

“We Need a Shrubbery!”

“Skeeters? Oh well, let's just crack out the DEET and go hiking anyway.”

“yep.”

“I just changed to a maybe. I am supposed to be out west at that time.”

“Dammit Woman!”

“Dammit Woman, who needs you?























We do!!!


Most of the FNST on the Ocala National Forest has been cleared except the portion that travels through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness.”

“Sorry guys I'll be thinking of you the WHOLE time! I promise!”

“Next weekend I'll be hiking the stretch from Hopkins to Juniper with some Scouts. I'll let y'all know the conditions there.

On that note Walkindude was asking about the water quality at the Hopkins pump. I seems to remember that is was iron water but not sulpher, not bad but not the best. But I'm not a good indicator as to that anyhow cause I was raised on sulpher well water. It takes a bunch to bother me. Any of y'all on Ocala 1 remember?”

“I want to get there early enough to cache some water where the trail crosses a FSR. I can't stand drinking that sucky water from a pump. And I damn sure ain't going to try to filter that gator piss water again.”

“I'm planning to go there in the morning for a couple of days. I remember Ocala NF-1. While I was hiking that first day, my daughter filled my pea bottle with water from the pump and used it to make soup. We were both tired, so we consumed the soup. It tasted good, so the water must have been OK.

Of course, I recall that I was too sick to do the rest of the trip. But the cause turned out to be a reaction to benadryl.
last edited: 11/05/04 2:01:34 PM”

“WD just get yours straight from the gator.”

“HPM - I'm interested to hear about the hurricans' effect on the woods - downed trees, high water levels. Over the last few years we have seen the water levels rise - I remember in Ocala 1 we walked by a bunch of grassy depressions that looked like lakes on the map. They are probably all up now. I recently hiked into Darcy pond (or whatever it's called) where we spent night #2 on Ocala 2. All of our campsites were underwater.”

“Wow, you're kidding Coop! If I ever get a day off I may have to get out that way. How's the family?”

“The family is doing well - thanks for asking. Here are a few recent pics:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/176186137/212866983rFWVPi

Halloween (Delaney was Bobby Bowden):

http://community.webshots.com/photo/176186137/212868228mwzCxv

Delaney's first bag night at Grandma's farm:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/176186137/212867711vtWmas”

“Good pictures, Coop, or are we back to my hero,Big Coop? Thanks for sharing.”

“I wanted to pick up an extra 3 months on my "member since" so I went back to "Big Coop". heh heh.”

“Just edit your profile for Coop and enter a comment like:
"Previously known as Big Coop since 11/27/01." You could even provide a link to Big Coop.
last edited: 11/07/04 9:35:28 AM”

“What a good looking family! Love the Bowden get up! Delany is soooo big!”

“Thanks, Yep - she is growing up fast.

Nowslimmer - yeah I know, but it's kind of fun to be Big Coop again for a while, like going back to an old hairstyle.”

“Ok, I just hiked the section from Hopkins Prarie down to Juniper Springs with a few Boy Scouts.

In short the 8 or so miles of trail through the Juniper Prarie Wilderness has been completely fugged up by the hurricanes. We spent more time bushwacking around, climbing over and crawling under blowdowns than we did hiking upright. Those of you who have hiked it before will be amazed.

Case in point. Those who were at Ocala 2. Do y'all remember how thick the forest was where we started at Juniper Springs? If the thickness of that forest was a ZZTop beard then it is now about as thick as a 3 day shadow. Trees are laying on the ground just thick.

The water levels in the prarie are amazing. I've never seen them this high. At hidden pond the trail back to the campsite is underwater and has been re-cut (kinda) up in the palms.

The lady at Juniper said we were the only group that has made it from Hopkins to Juniper since the 'canes. We don't believe that is true because someone has definately been through ahead of us and has bushwacked new routes in several places. But boy are they rough paths.

I have cuts and scratches all up and down my legs.

As it stands I'm not comfortable in saying this place is worth driving down to hike due to how rough it is. It wouldn't suprise me if folks got down here looked at the trail and turned around and went home.

I might be able arrange some trail maintenance but this will take a whole lot of work to make passable.

I'm really not sure what to tell y'all.”

“I am up for some TM!”

“I'm still in!”

“Hey Packmule, are you in the FT.”

“Hey Dude!”

“Hey,the FT might have a work day. I can call and see.”

“I am comming down to get out and enjoy Creation. If our efforts on some TM would allow for others to enjoy the trail later Im all for it. I would suggest though that if we do that that we make (I think it is Hopkins Pararie) a base camp or something like that..... Would it be cool to bring Chainsaws with us and do we need permits to use them for TM purposes?”

“Still lookin' forward to it! Gonna buy plane tickets soon!”

“Chainsaws are not allowed in the Juniper Prarie Wilderness area by anyone. Hand tools only.

If this becomes a TM trip then a better base would be the edge of Juniper Prarie Wilderness area as it is closer but we would has to go out and bring back water (dry camp).

I am no longer a FTA member but I do plan to renew-reinlist-signup again. The FTA is responsible for the condition of the trail. I do believe that we as hikers share in that. I plan to contact them and ask what their plans are.

My thought would be to put together a TM trip this December/January and let the Feb trip remain a fellowship kind of trip.”

“Trip report from last weekend
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/34741,1.php”

“Well pppfffttt !

Thanks for the report !”

“TM sounds good to me - I would like to help out - I am still in the FTA and they have a few Ocala TM trips planned, but they do not specify where they will be (on the trail) on what days.

http://www.floridatrailassociation.org/

Go to Local Chapters / Central Florida / Activities to see the dates and get the contact info.


As for trying to discourage TT'ers from a hike because of overwhelming obstacles - well that's a bit like Tom Sawyer telling the other kids that painting a fence might be too difficult for them. Nice try HPM.
last edited: 11/15/04 4:49:27 PM”

“lol @ Coop.
Not trying to discourge anyone. I just thought a heads up was in order.”

“Hey Packmule, I'm sure they will have a work day before the hike. I maintain the sections north of there, But if ya'll want to go down and give them a hand. The north fl trialblazzers is having a thing the first week of Dec. at sweetwater. We might be able to throw together something.”

“Ok, I re-joined the FTA.
Looking at the site the Central Florida folks have some workdays planned this winter but they aren't all that specific.

Right now I'm looking at the weekends of Dec. 3, 4, 5 or 10, 11, 12. Depending of what the FTA Central Chapter folks tell me and the level of interest is I was thinking we could go out to the north boundary of the Juniper Prairie Wilderness and basecamp Friday night. Then we could tote our handsaws, loppers, pruners and maybe a comealong down the trail and see what we can do on saturday. Head out on Sunday. Remember this is a wilderness area so the goal will be to take the blowdowns to ground. Complete clearing is a bonus and not the primary objective. Remember general gun season opened last weekend.

If we have enough interest I'll spin off a new thread.”

“Before leaving Ocala NF yesterday, I stopped at the Visitor Center on highway 19 near Lake Dorr for a map. I learned the the Juniper and two other canoe trails are closed due to fallen trees.”

“Well no one seemed too concerned so the plan remains unchanged.”

“concerned about what?”

“All the hurricane damage and downed trees in the Juniper Prairie section.”

“We ain't skeered of no trees! ;-)”

“oh that...no biggie”

“Yeah everyone seemed cool with climbing and crawling for 8 miles. :)

If it cool with y'all it's cool with me.

Plus the FTA is putting a huge effort into clearing the trail.”

“

"Plus the FTA is putting a huge effort into clearing the trail."
humanpackmule

A little more information, please? Like who, where when?

Last night I attended the local FTA meeting, but I could not get any information on that section of the trail in Ocala NF. Won a real nice doorprize, though. Then I had just enough time to swim 1,200 yards.

Today I hiked part of the Florida NT in Econ SF. It was pretty along the Econlockhatchee River. Plan to swim 1,800 yards or more this evening.”

“I think I'm gonna fly down on Thursday but will probably stay in a motel that night as I'll get off work 7am Thurs morning. However, I asked for Monday off and I'm thinking of staying an extra night on the trail...would it be feasible to hike another 10 miles or so to another parking lot to get out Monday afternoon?”

“Absolutely. And ten mile days isn't a big deal here, you could go farther if you'd like.

Going south you could pull out at either Farles Prairie Campground (literally a wide spot in the road) there are three spots past that at paved roads (one with with a nice parking lot) and then Alexander Springs (pay to park).

I guess I need to send you a map, but whatever you want to do we can be sure your car is waiting at the end for you.”

“I tell ya what, send me you snail addy and I'll send you some maps.”

“hpm, don't tell him that. He might be able to sell the car. I will split the money with ya”

“sweet!”

“Hehe, I'll send you it tomorrow morning. The car will be a rental so steal it!”

“Get the "extra" insurance.”